In the narrow, shaded alley behind the Immortal Official Manor, Wei Ping was pinned against the wall by his collar.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.
Two of his back teeth had loosened.
Meng Heze’s punch had held no mercy, yet Wei Ping chuckled:
“Since Senior Brother Song took a sword strike for me, I won’t retaliate for this punch of yours.”
The alley was so narrow that only two people could walk side by side. Sunlight was blocked by the gray eaves, unable to seep in at all.
When Wei Ping first arrived in Thousand-Ditch Prefecture, the crowd in front of the manor gate was massive and clamorous. Meng Heze had led him through this cool, shaded alley and pushed open a hidden side door.
That was his first time entering the Immortal Official Manor and meeting Song Qianji.
Back then, Meng Heze had joked while swinging his longsword:
“You’re someone I brought in through the back door—you’d better stick with me from now on!”
Now, Meng Heze’s right hand was clenched into a fist, his left gripping Wei Ping’s collar, the veins on the back of his hand bulging:
“Don’t play innocent with me! The assassination attempt at Thousand Canal Bazaar must be connected to you!”
Wei Ping didn’t struggle, leaning against the wall and tilting his head with a smile: “Senior Brother Meng, you need evidence to make such claims.”
“I’m not a naive young master like Ji Chen—I don’t rely on evidence, only intuition!” Meng Heze pressed his sword sheath against Wei Ping’s neck.
“Leave Thousand Canals. Don’t force me to take action!”
Wei Ping was Song Qianji’s steward, serving him daily meals and participating in the development of Thousand Canals. He had single-handedly established Thousand Canal Bazaar, deeply influencing Thousand-Ditch Prefecture.
Meng Heze didn’t want Song Qianji to be disappointed; he wanted Wei Ping to leave on his own.
“I won’t leave, and I’m not the one you should be wary of. Don’t you know who’s recuperating in Song Courtyard? Then again, you just returned last night—others wouldn’t dare tell you.” Wei Ping ignored the sword, staring intently at the changes in Meng Heze’s pupils.
“It’s the mastermind behind this assassination—Lin Feiyuan!”
Meng Heze shuddered: “How can such a dangerous person stay by Senior Brother Song’s side?”
Wei Ping slipped away like a fish, smoothing his collar: “Senior Brother is kind-hearted, saying he was just paid to do a job. Not only did he spare him, but he’s also treating his injuries and letting him stay in Song Courtyard. Lin Feiyuan is the most expensive assassin in the black market, having killed countless Nascent Souls. His ambitions are treacherous—he can never be tamed.”
Meng Heze gritted his teeth.
Wei Ping leaned close to his ear and whispered: “Since we can’t kill him in Song Courtyard… tonight at midnight, I’ll lure him out, and we’ll kill him together.”
Meng Heze stepped back as if seeing Wei Ping for the first time: “But Senior Brother doesn’t want him dead.”
Wei Ping lowered his voice: “If neither of us speaks, how would Senior Brother know? He’ll just think Lin Feiyuan ran away on his own.”
Meng Heze fell silent. The proposal was too tempting. Just as he was about to agree, he caught the smirk in Wei Ping’s eyes and snapped back to reality:
“You’re hiding things from Senior Brother, and now you want to drag me down with you? Dream on. Why would I board the same sinking ship as you?”
Wei Ping sighed inwardly: “Fine, I’ll handle the dirty work myself.”
He sighed and made to leave, but suddenly his left hand shot out like a claw, striking without warning straight at Meng Heze’s shoulder.
Startled, Meng Heze raised his sword to block, but Wei Ping’s right palm struck his ribs.
The narrow alley left little room to maneuver. Their blows landed hard and fast, swift as lightning.
In an instant, the deep alley echoed with the whistle of wind and the surge of fierce energy.Because they were near the Immortal Official Manor, neither of them used spiritual power or magical artifacts. After twenty-some exchanges of fists and kicks, Wei Ping proved slightly faster.
"You lied to Senior Brother Song," Wei Ping said with a laugh. "The injuries you suffered at the foot of Hua Wei Mountain never truly healed."
Meng Heze stared coldly at him.
Wei Ping turned and walked out of the alley.
Meng Heze asked, "Where are you going?"
"To supervise the post-war reconstruction of Thousand Canal Bazaar. Why are you following me again, Senior Brother Meng?"
"I have to keep an eye on you!"
...
Half the shops in Thousand Canal Bazaar had already reopened.
On one side of the street lay broken walls and ruins, with carts transporting timber and paint coming and going. Carpenters, blacksmiths, and masons worked with bustling energy. On the other side, restaurant attendants solicited customers, vendors pushed carts selling snacks, and young women browsed through silk and satin flowers.
Amidst the destruction, new life emerged—vitality radiating from every new tile and blue brick.
"Was this where Senior Brother Song was assassinated?" Meng Heze asked.
"Yes," Wei Ping nodded.
Meng Heze wanted to say more, perhaps to analyze the assassination, but people kept greeting Wei Ping:
"Steward Wei is here! Would you like to try some candied hawthorns?"
"Hello, Steward Wei! Buy some cabbage—you can make dumplings for Song Xian Guan!"
Wei Ping smiled at everyone, constantly responding.
"The vegetables look especially fresh today. I'll take two heads."
"Senior Brother Meng, would you like some cakes? It's from Hongfu's stall. Come try some!"
Whenever someone needed help, he would roll up his sleeves and pitch in immediately—pushing a cart, repairing a tile—never finding it troublesome.
In contrast, Meng Heze felt somewhat uncomfortable.
He noticed that Wei Ping's smile had changed. It was no longer that perfectly curved, seemingly gentle yet hypocritical fake smile.
Wei Ping now smiled with crinkled eyes, genuinely and sincerely.
...
Lin Feiyuan selected three fine furs from the warehouse, carrying them in his arms until he looked like a black bear from afar.
He muttered, "Without spiritual power, everything is so troublesome."
Entering Song Courtyard, he saw Song Qianji busy again and couldn't help but complain, "Why are you picking so many seeds?"
"Come spring, we'll plant an experimental 'seed field' in the city to find ways to increase yield per acre. By cultivating superior varieties generation after generation, all the grain seeds in Thousand Canals will eventually come from the best selections in the 'seed field,'" Song Qianji explained.
Lin Feiyuan thought, I was commenting on your boring life, not actually asking why you're doing this.
But since Song Qianji had answered seriously, he couldn't bring himself to complain further.
"What cultivation method are you practicing anyway? I've never seen you train, so where did all your cultivation come from?"
Lin Feiyuan had already determined that Song Qianji wasn't practicing any mind-controlling evil arts, which made him even more curious. "If you don't want to say..."
Song Qianji replied bluntly, "I practice a method called 'Spring Night's Joyful Rain,' which connects with nature and benefits farming."
Lin Feiyuan thought, I've traveled throughout the cultivation world for years and never heard of such a method.
"Which Great Adept created it? Is it a secret inheritance?"
Song Qianji smiled. "I came up with it myself."
Lin Feiyuan was speechless. He carried the heavy furs into the room and slammed them onto the table.
Comparing oneself to others is truly frustrating. How could this be fair?
All other cultivators should hear this.
...
Because Steward Wei had been stopped by a cabbage vendor in Thousand Canal Bazaar who enthusiastically promoted his goods, Song Courtyard had cabbage and pork dumplings for lunch that day.
The plump, white dumplings dropped into the dark dipping sauce, coated with fragrant vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, and sesame.
With one bite, juices overflowed, filling the mouth with aroma.Wei Ping glanced at Lin Feiyuan's expression several times. Seeing him eating with intense focus, he couldn't resist sending a voice transmission: "Don't forget midnight tonight."
Lin Feiyuan ignored him and declared loudly:
"Steward Wei, go buy me three bolts of cloth and a sewing kit. The fabric must be fine silk from 'Brocade Pile,' and remember, only the latest patterns from this year. The scissors must come from the old blacksmith's shop at the easternmost end of Changhua Street in Hongfu County."
Wei Ping's expression shifted abruptly. He transmitted again: "You're not leaving?"
Lin Feiyuan spoke aloud: "The dumplings are delicious. Oh, and buy me a pipa too. It feels wrong singing without accompaniment."
Song Qianji shot Lin Feiyuan a warning glance.
The latter finally fell silent.
After the meal, Wei Ping dragged Lin Feiyuan into the kitchen, claiming he had to wash dishes or else Wei Ping wouldn't run his errands.
Once the door closed, Wei Ping ended up doing the washing anyway.
Amid the splashing water and clattering dishes, Wei Ping muttered, "Thousand Canals is now tightly guarded. Even for me, smuggling five people out won't be easy. If we miss this chance, later..."
Lin Feiyuan waved a hand as if shooing a fly while sneakily nibbling stove candy: "I eat and drink well here. Song Qianji isn't killing me—why should I leave?"
"What about your business?" Wei Ping asked, suppressing anger.
"Closed for the year-end break."
"What about your accomplices?"
"Song Qianji said they're hauling manure in the fields. They're all fine—don't try to trick me."
Wei Ping slammed a bowl down and paced like an agitated lion.
He didn't believe Lin Feiyuan's words. Though well-fed, Lin Feiyuan couldn't use Spirit Qi, lived like a mortal, and was confined to Song Courtyard—no different from imprisonment. How could someone who lived by the blade willingly endure such captivity? Was he planning a second assassination attempt?
"Don't worry. Even if I stay, I won't expose you. Now hurry and buy my scissors, needles, silk, and pipa."
"Meow." Wei Ping started as a cat nimbly leaped through the window.
Lin Feiyuan scooped up the cat with practiced ease, idly stroking its fur: "Once I've fully recovered and rested a while longer, if I'm in the mood, I might leave."
Since entering Song Courtyard, he'd even sworn less.
Dreams of life-and-death struggles and flashing blades had vanished, replaced by earth-shattering decisions like selecting a seed.
Wei Ping said coldly, "If you don't leave tonight, I'll spread rumors in the black market that after your failed assassination, Song Qianji keeps you leashed in Song Courtyard like a dog, tortured and abused. Your reputation will be ruined, and your business will never recover!"
Lin Feiyuan thought, What a vicious kid.
But he laughed: "Cut off my retreat, and I'll never leave. Let's see who cracks first. Go ahead."
Wei Ping stormed out, sleeves whipping so fiercely he nearly collided with Ji Chen.
Lin Feiyuan followed, cat in arms, swaggering with straightened back.
Ji Chen stared blankly: "What's going on today? Brother Meng seemed unhappy earlier, and now you're both upset?"
Lin Feiyuan boomed: "I'm delighted! Brother Ji, do you play cards?"
Wei Ping turned back, expressionless: "I'm delighted too."
"Couldn't tell," Ji Chen shook his head. "I don't play cards. Someone just delivered an invitation outside the city gates, asking Senior Brother Song to attend a banquet on the fifteenth of next month. I'm going to find him."
A radiant invitation lay on the stone table, casting a glorious light over the humble courtyard.
Song Qianji didn't need to open it. The gold flowers on red background and the emblem of Huawel Sect told him everything."Chen Hongzhu's engagement ceremony?"
Ji Chen said: "Senior Brother's foresight is godlike! But why is Huawel Sect inviting us?"
Lin Feiyuan laughed while holding a cat: "A weasel inviting a chicken to dinner. Why do you think?"
"Then I'll go in Senior Brother's place." Ji Chen volunteered, "Anyway, Senior Brother doesn't like these kinds of occasions."
"No, I'll go." Song Qianji said.
Wei Ping and Ji Chen looked at him in surprise.
For Chen Hongzhu's engagement ceremony, Huawel Sect would surely host a grand banquet for guests.
All sects and noble families would gather. Given Song Qianji's personality, he would never willingly deal with such affairs.
Lin Feiyuan frowned: "Do you think they actually want to invite you?! This is the usual tactic of major sects - if they can't destroy you, they try to win you over, just to make you let your guard down temporarily."
"Everyone wants to see me. So I'll go out and let them see me."
Song Qianji thought to himself, rather than having various forces itching with curiosity and sending spies to Thousand Canals every other day to test the waters, it would be better to appear openly and let them see their fill at once.
Meng Heze had returned injured this time. Young people care about face - even if beaten half to death outside, they'd be too embarrassed to talk about it when returning.
But if he didn't show himself now, how could other people from Thousand Canals go out and travel freely in the future?
Most importantly, the timing of Chen Hongzhu's engagement ceremony was just right—
In deep winter when all things rest and recuperate, it's the slack farming season. Making one trip out now could solve the problem permanently.
It wouldn't interfere with next spring's busy farming season.
Thinking of the vibrant spring ahead, a smile appeared in Song Qianji's eyes.
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